Investigations Manager

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Investigations Manager

Permanent

Manchester: £64,000 - £72,000

Hybrid working

Make your mark on fairness in education

You want a role where your decisions matter; where you can lead a skilled team, handle complex cases, and protect the integrity of something important.

As the Investigations Manager at AQA, you will play a key role in making sure investigations and appeals are handled fairly, consistently and in line with our regulatory responsibilities.

What you will be doing

In this role, you will lead a team of around 10 experienced investigators and support officers and oversee the delivery of malpractice and appeals casework from start to finish.

You will:

• Lead and support a team to deliver high-quality investigations work

• Oversee complex and high-profile cases, including emerging case types such as cyber-related incidents

• Use data and performance measures to track progress and keep cases moving

• Act as a point of advice and escalation for your team

• Represent AQA in appeals hearings, including with external bodies

• Work with colleagues across AQA and the wider sector to improve how we operate

• Help shape better ways of working through continuous improvement

You will also build a positive team environment, support development, and lead through change.

What’s in it for you?

You will do meaningful work that supports fairness in the education system. You will lead and develop a capable, specialist team and will work on complex and high-profile cases

AQA are proud to offer a range of benefits which include a collaborative, values led working environment; 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 30 with service, plus bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas;  a 35 hour working week with flexible working arrangements;  an excellent contributory pension scheme (6%–11.5% depending on your contribution); access to professional and personal development whenever you need it;  the opportunity to join a variety of employee networks including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity, Interfaith and more. 

What we are looking for

This role could suit you if you enjoy leading in a fast-paced environment and making clear, confident decisions.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Experience leading and developing a team

• A background in investigations, ideally in a regulated, legal, policing or education setting

• Comfortable making decisions and taking responsibility

• Experience managing delivery using data and performance measures

• Strong communication skills, including writing guidance and presenting in formal settings  

• A focus on continuous improvement and learning

Experience of cyber-related investigations would be useful but not essential.

You do not need to meet every requirement. If your experience is a little different but you feel you could succeed in this role, we would still like to hear from you. We value collaboration, openness and continuous learning and you will be supported to build your knowledge and confidence in any new and complex areas.

Application Process

To apply, please upload your most recent CV with a cover letter to outline your motivation and suitability for this Investigations Manager role and answer the application questions.

Applications will close at 23:59 on Sunday 21 June 2026

Interviews will be in person in the Manchester office in the week beginning 29 June

Diversity and Inclusion

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences 

All applications will be read by a human and responded to in writing

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Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

As Investigations Manager you will be key to AQA meeting its regulatory obligations to deliver a prompt and compliant investigatory malpractice and appeals service by line managing a team of trained investigators.
You will drive high performance through your commitment to AQA’s performance, learning and development approaches and by modelling best practice in AQA’s behaviours and leadership habits.The Investigations Manager will be responsible for the timely and compliant delivery of AQA’s centre staff and security breach malpractice cases and the subsequent appeals function. You will also be responsible for the review of marking/moderation and special consideration appeals processes. You will ensure the progress of those cases against agreed measures, using data and management information and working closely with relevant colleagues to monitor performance and to quickly identify and address backlogs or issues.
You will be responsible for a number of investigatory and appeals processes, their associated working documentation and training for your team and you will drive and lead the effective planning, delivery oversight and review of working practices in these areas.
 
You will be expected to proactively oversee and sometimes lead on the most complex, high-profile cases the team handles, including new and emerging case-types such as cyber-crime cases. You will also be required to represent AQA at appeal hearings, including with the regulator (EPRS). 
In addition, you will be expected to work collaboratively with your equivalents at other awarding organisations through relevant JCQ groups, present at or attend external events and work with colleagues from across AQA departments as necessary.
You will also support on continuous improvement work, providing both internal and external feedback to help drive the prevention agenda. This will help to embed ‘integrity by design’ and assist AQA to meet its commitment to reliable delivery, shape the future and be effective at all times.
The role-holder will make a key contribution to the positive culture and working practices of the business area as a whole so must bring a positive and open mindset to embedding change and championing AQA’s culture and ways of working.
 
Landscape
Exams Integrity is a team of 24 which increases in size during its peak delivery period in the summer. The Investigations Manager role is a key management and leadership post which directly manages and has responsibility for a team of expert investigators who deliver investigations casework in a fast-paced and highly regulated field, ensuring AQA meets its regulatory obligations in relation to malpractice and appeals and maintaining integrity in the exams system.
Activities
1. Line manage a team of expert investigators to drive a high level of performance which you oversee in accordance with established process, time and quality criteria, published guidance and KPIs/SLAs, from case allocation to resolution
2. Positively influence the Exams Integrity culture by engaging with and promoting AQA culture and ways of working expectations, and leading with authenticity and integrity
3. Establish and effectively measure progress (team and individual) against agreed KPIs in real-time to ensure, working with appropriate colleagues, efficient, timely and quality case progression 
4. Lead, promote and enable a learning and development culture where team members have the necessary tools and knowledge to fulfil their roles and where individuals take responsibility for personal development and learning, with effective and regular management support
5. Support the Head of Exams Integrity & Inspection in the development of the three-year strategic business plan, operationalising it into delivery plans, taking a lead on specific workstreams and proactively progressing activities to agreed deadlines
6. Working with relevant colleagues, follow and drive adherence to an annual delivery plan, covering effective planning and resourcing for delivery peaks, training programmes, working documentation and end of series reviews which have the customer, continuous improvement and regulatory compliance at the heart
7. Attend, engage with and confidently contribute to cross-board and cross-AQA meetings, helping to shape and influence industry-wide or AQA priorities and to embed integrity by design
8. Working with relevant colleagues, undertake awareness-raising activities such as hosting webinars, attending conferences or writing guidance
9. Support with direct investigation visits or, where needed, lead on investigations
10. Work with colleagues in Security & Risk to ensure cases which involve cyber-crime or other breaches of AQA’s secure systems are appropriately overseen and progressed
11. Act as an escalation/advice point for your team and represent AQA at formal appeals hearings, including, where applicable, EPRS hearings
12. Ensure AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements and keeping records, files, reports and documentation secure, accurate and up-to-date in line with GDPR regulations and company policy.
13. Undertake any other tasks commensurate with the role
Need to know – to be successful in this role you will need to know
Have a ‘step up’ mindset: Confident and autonomous decision-maker who takes responsibility for own work and holds themselves and their team to account
Experienced and committed people manager with a track record of leading, challenging and motivating a team that is inspired to learn and develop and is committed to AQA’s values, behaviours and leadership habits
A strong background in investigatory work, preferably from a policing or similar sector, with an emphasis on online and cyber-crime preferred
Experience of working in a similar regulatory, legal or education/examinations environment at senior manager level
Experience in successfully overseeing an operational delivery function and used to working with MI/KPIs
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail and accuracy, the ability to produce clear procedural guidance/training materials and experience of advocacy in formal hearing settings
Excellent organisation and time management skills
Results focused: must be able to work and make decisions at pace in a high-pressure delivery environment whilst maintaining high levels of accuracy
Have a learning and development mindset, open to giving and receiving feedback and committed to improving self and working practices
Travel at short notice, including at the weekend, will be required, particularly during the summer exam series
 
Location
Manchester or Guildford, with hybrid working
Band
Guide A – North = £59,187 - £67,711, South = £61,628 - £70,503
Reports to
Head of Exams Integrity & Inspection